Grant’s Knees Feeling Better

Forward Brian Grant said the pain in his chronically sore knees has subsided to the point that he might return for the Lakers’ Dec. 25 game against the Miami Heat, his former team.

Grant, put on the injured list Nov. 23, has been working with Laker trainers to decrease the effects of tendinitis.

“I can already tell a whole difference in my whole body, just the balance of my body, my posture,” Grant said. “It’s just really retraining my body to work properly to take pressure off of both knees, off of everything mechanically.”

Grant, 32, had averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in nine games with the Lakers, well below his career averages of 11.4 points and eight rebounds before this season.

“I don’t have a timetable, but I don’t see myself being out too long,” Grant said. “I think once I come off [the injured list] I’m definitely going to see the benefits and the fans and the team are going to see the benefits of it.”

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Lamar Odom said a swollen left knee would not keep him out of tonight’s game against Phoenix. “Little ache, we all go through it,” he said. “People that work in an office get up sick one day, not feeling too good, they still have got to go to work.” ... Caron Butler, who slid over from small forward to shooting guard for part of Friday’s game against Golden State, could become Kobe Bryant’s main backup at the position now that Kareem Rush has been traded to Charlotte.... Rookie guard Sasha Vujacic, who broke his hand last week, has been practicing and could be taken off the injured list today.

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TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 10-7, Suns 15-3.

Record vs. Suns -- 0-1.

Update -- The Lakers lost a 17-point lead in a 107-102 loss Nov. 19 in Phoenix. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich refused to take media questions afterward because he was irritated with the referees.